Fractionation apparatus



Patented Aug. 20, 929.

ROBERT H. VAN SCHAACK, JR., OF EVANSTON, ILLINOIS.

FRACTIONATION APPARATUS.

Application filed September 8, l1927. Serial No. 218,337.

My invention relates to a new and advantageous type of apparatus forbringing a vapor or gas into contact with a liquid. The apparatus isuseful, for example, in the Operations of fractionating or practiced inthe chemical industry.

` lA purpose of the invention is to provide a tower filling orfractionating ring which is suificiently strong in relation to itsoverall volume to resist crushing by the weight of rings above it, has alarge surface area, and is susceptible to economical manufacture.Further objects will appear from the detailed description which follows.

The fractionating rings of Lessing and Rashig are Well known and widelyused. The latter consists of a hollow cylinder of sheet metal, such,"forexample, as would be formed by sawing off a l-inch length of ai1-inch,thin-walled metal pipe. VVhen packed into a fractionating column,the space within the cylinder presents a large passage for Vapor'themaximum distance of which from the liquid film bathing th'e ring isapproximately one-half the diameter of the ring. The Lessing ring has apartition connected with one side of the ring and extending part p way'across the ring to the other side. The ring is not closed andconsequently is more or less suscept-ible to pressure applied to itsside.

I have now invented a ring having a greater ratio of surface to overallvolume or .higher resistance to crushing than either of these otherrings.

The new ring is illustrated in F igs. 1, 2, and 3. Fig. 1 gives an endview. Fig. 2 shows the ring in perspective. Fig. 3 shows a section inthe plane of the axis and perpendicular to the diametrical partition.The diametrical partition', a, extends entirely across the cylinder andsupports each half of 'the Shell, as at b and c. The wall of thecylinder is'thus supported at the two points, L5 b and c, approximately180 apart whereas the earlier types of ring have no such support at 180intervals. In addition, the complete partition increases the area ofcontact, during scrubbing or fractionation, between 0 liquid bathing thewalls and vapor or gas.

Finally, the Partition produces two non-communicating chambers and makessure that no particleof vapor or gas within the cylinder is ever distantfrom the nearest wall scrubbing as' .the cylinder is by more thanone-fourth the diameter of the cylinder.

A detailed description of one method of practising my invention follows.Aluminum tapc or sheet, 0.022 inch thick by 3/8 inch wide, 18 shaped tothe form illustrated in the figures, the outside diameter of thecylinder 'bemg substantially equal to the length. This length may be 1/2inch.

I do not limit myself to this type of niaterial, to this size ofcylinder, or to these proportions. I may use other material ofconstruction as, for example, sheet iron, copper, or clay or othersiliceous material of the type used. in the ceramic industry. Thediameter of the cylinder may be varied. Usually I make the diameter notless than 1z inch and not more than 11/2 inches. The|` length ofpreferably not greater than twice the diameter. Good results have beenobtained when the length is approximately equal t t-he diameter. I,

One convenient method of manufacturing the ring is the following.Aluminum tape is fed into a diametrical slot in a mandrel of outsidediameter equal to the desired inside diameter of the cylinder to beturned. The tape is extruded until the length that extends from theslot' equals approximately half the circumference of the inandrel. Thetape is then cut at such a point as to leave an equal length extendingfrom the other side of the slot. Rotating lugs then catch the two I'ends of the tape and wrap them around the two halves of the cylindricalmandrel.

The ring is then removed from the machine and is ready for use as ameans of bringing a liquid into contact with a gas.

The method of use of these rings in a frac tionating or scrubbing columnwill be obvious to one skilled in the art. The tower, as, for example,an 18-inch, vertically placed copper pipe 15 feet long is nearly filledwith the rings, poured in at random.V The vapor or gas is then passedupward through the packed column, as from a still or boiling pot, andthe liquid for scrubbing is allowed to flow downward over the rings, asfrom'a dephlegmator or condenser above the column.

If the column has a large diameter, say 3 feet, it is often desirable tointroduce some device to insure distribution of the liquid and vaporthroughout the entire cross section of the column. Otherwise, channelingmag allow vapor or gas to pass upward through certain parts of thecolumn and liquid down- Ward through other Sections and thus decreasethe effective surface of contact of liquid and Vapor or gas.

I do not limit the invention to any one method of manufacturing therings or to any one type of apparatus'into which the rings are placed. A

I claim:

1. A fractionating ring comprising a hollow cylinder of Sheet metal Witha diametrical partition extending entirely across the cylinder, saidPartition at each side being continuous with a portion of the cylinderWall.

2. A fractionating ring comprising a hollow cylinder of diameterapproximately equal to the length with a diametrical partition extendingentirely across the cylinder, said Partition at each side beingcontinuous with a sector of the cylinder wall.

3. A fractionating ring comprising a hollow cylinder of sheet metal witha diametrical partition extending entirely across and being continuous,at each side, with a. portion of the circumferenoe, the diameter of thecylinder and the length being each approximately1/2inch. v

4:. A vfractionating ring of substantially cylindrical form comprising adiametrically disposed web member, and two oppositely curvedcircumferential members, each continuous With one end of the web member.

5,. A fractionating ring of substantially cylindrical form and having alength approximately equal to the diameter comprising a diametricallydisposed web member, and two oppositely Curved circumferential members,each continuous With'one end of the 4D web member.

In testimony whereof, I aflix my signature.

RIH. VAN sciiAAoK, JR.

